Ultrasonic Microphone and Ultrasonic Acoustic Radio

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to an ultrasonic microphone and an ultrasonic acoustic radio. In one aspect a system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver comprises a membrane. The membrane comprises a single layer or multiple layers of a two-dimensional material. The receiver is operable to receive sound waves in a frequency range, with the frequency range being the ultrasonic frequency range.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 558,467, filed Sep. 14, 2017, which is a continuation of International Application Serial No. PCT / US2016 / 019373, filed Feb. 24, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 133,804, filed Mar. 16, 2015 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 143,565, filed Apr. 6, 2015, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 737,903, filed Jun. 12, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]This invention was made with government support under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, under Grant No. N00014-09-1066 awarded by the Office of Naval Research, and under Grant No. EEC-083819 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in this invention.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]This d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The described invention is a wideband ultrasonic acoustic radio that uses graphene-based technology to generate and receive sounds in the human auditory range and beyond. It has been tested and shown to have a flat frequency response, meaning it can pick up a variety of sounds without distortion. The radio can also record ultrasonic bat calls and transmit information using amplitude modulation. It can also use interference between acoustic and electromagnetic signals for range finding.

Problems solved by technology

A small diaphragm inevitably sacrifices low frequency response, mainly due to the increased effective stiffness of the diaphragm (which reduces the response vibration amplitude), and to inefficiencies in coupling.

Small diaphragms also increase detection (i.e. electronic transduction) difficulties.

Wideband microphones with equalized frequency response covering both audible and ultrasonic regimes are technically exceedingly challenging.

This circuit, however, can present difficulties at higher frequencies because of parasitic capacitance in the transmission lines.

However, higher bandwidth amplifiers may have a lower signal to noise ratio.

A resistor 320 with a large resistance may also cause the circuit to become unstable.

However, measuring the frequency response in the ultrasonic region presents difficulties, mainly due to the lack of wideband reference microphones or loudspeakers in this region.

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